161st Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron
The date and location were not listed on the photo, but it was most likely taken at the Y-10 airfield in Belguim in March of 1945.
Left to Right:
1st Row: E. L. Garr, R. Niehouse, John A O'Brien & Mustang, Leo Sommers, H. R. Wood
2nd Row: W. 'Moose' Melton, Harold Norman, L.A. Jorgenson, L. A. Murtha, W. D. Parker, Ernest Lamb, P.J. Kreter, E. R. "Rabbit" Johnson
3rd Row: A. Miller, Harvey Maher, Chas Read & Rusty, J. L. Murtha, George Bomier, Bob Fuiten, Bill Grusy, Paul Schmidt, Bill Lustig, "Chappie" Foster, Tom Watson
General Documents
| Squadron Locations | List of airfields used by the 161st Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron from September 1944 to May 1945. |
| May 15th, 1945 - Relieve from assignment | List of members of the XXIX Tactical Air Command relieved of duty on May 15th, 1945. |
Medal Documentation
Medals awarded to members of the XXIX Tactical Air Command (TAC). This list is limited to the dates where my grandfather received his awards.
| November 25th, 1944 | XXIX TAC: Soldier's Medal, Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Air Medal, Oak Leaf Cluster to Air Medal |
| December 13th, 1944 | XXIX TAC: Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Air Medal, Oak Leaf Cluster to Air Medal, and General Orders |
| February 2nd, 1945 | XXIX TAC: Bronze Star, Air Medal, Oak Leaf Cluster to Air Medal, and General Orders |
| March 1st, 1945 | XXIX TAC: Bronze Star, Air Medal, Oak Leaf Cluster to Air Medal, and General Orders |
| April 25th, 1945 | XXIX TAC: Soldier's Medal, Bronze Star, Air Medal, Oak Leaf Cluster to Air Medal, Purple Heart, and General Orders |
| May 16th, 1945 | XXIX TAC: Bronze Star, Air Medal, Oak Leaf Cluster to Air Medal, Purple Heart, and General Orders |
| June 23, 1945 | Ninth Air Force: Silver Star and Distinguished Flying Cross |
| June 30, 1945 | IX TAC: Bronze Star, Air Medal, Oak Leaf Cluster to Air Medal, Purple Heart, and General Orders |
Comics
This group of illustrations was among the records I found, with a sense of humor that may only make sense to the members of the squadron. Unfortunately, the name of the artist was not listed anywhere.